Monday, August 11, 2008 Nalzaro: Harassing Cebu media By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
WHAT power and authority does the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) have to invite a mediaman because of a wrong news report? Maybe some of them feel they are members of Congress who can invite or summon any individual, and then grill and malign that person during a congressional committee hearing.
The Freeman reporter Rene Borromeo made the right decision by ignoring the PB’s invitation or summon for him to appear before the body to rectify a news report he wrote, which some provincial legislators perceived to be inaccurate. My friend PB Member Juan Bolo lashed out at Borromeo after the latter ignored the invitation. Bolo, a lawyer, wants the body to take action against Borromeo for maligning its reputation when he ignored the invitation.
The PB was reacting to an article of Borromeo that came out last July 7 entitled “COA says Capitol hired unqualified personnel,” quoting a website report which says the personnel hired for the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)-Cebu Province failed to meet the required educational background . Later Borromeo rectified the news item, claiming he mistakenly referred to the Provincial Government as the “management” instead of the Council for Welfare and Children.
Aside from his letter addressed to the board, Renbor, as Borromeo is fondly called by his colleagues, also visited some board members to explain his side. So what’s the big fuss all about? Why is my friend Bolo making such a big issue out of it? I was surprised by his action, considering I have such high respect for him. Not only is Bolo a top-notch lawyer, he has one of the most brilliant minds at the Capitol.
Wasn’t Renbor’s acknowledgement of his mistake and his explanation enough? Why oblige him to appear before the board…so that some publicity-hungry politicians can get back at him by maligning him during its session?
Local legislative bodies have no judicial and prosecutorial power, unlike Congress, to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation or to summon just about anybody. When someone ignores a summon to attend a congressional investigation, Congress can cite that person in contempt. But what about the PB?
Of course we have respect for the PB as its members are respectable people duly elected by the province’s constituents.
But what about the right of the person being summoned? If he does not like to appear before the board for whatever reason, then nobody can compel him. The board should respect that. But if the board thinks it has persuasive powers to compel Renbor to appear, then, by all means, it should do it.
I would have done the same thing in Renbor’s shoes. Why should I heed their summons, so they can control my time and movement? I won’t be able to speak unless told to. So is the board threatening the Cebu press? There are several avenues that our honorable PB members can take so their grievances against a member of the press may be addressed. First, its members can write a letter to the editor rectifying the wrong information.
That alone is enough to humiliate an irresponsible reporter. If the paper will not publish the letter, PB members can go to the Cebu Citizens Press Council (CCPC). If they are still not happy, they can go to court and file libel charges against the media person.
So to my friends at the PB, please don’t impose your will on others unless you have the power and authority to do so.
